Wasatch County and state ease tensions after funding threat, but law fight remains

Weeks after Gov. Spencer Cox's housing adviser warned that Wasatch County could lose state funding for resisting growth, county and state officials have moved to talks, but they still disagree over a state law on new towns, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. ^[1]

Steve Waldrip, the governor's senior adviser for housing strategy, told the Heber City Council in August that the county's funding was "now at risk," specifically mentioning road money. The warning followed the county's rejection of an agreement for a housing proposal on state trust land near Heber City and its push to repeal SB258, a 2024 law that lets qualifying developments seek preliminary municipality status. ^[1]

County Manager Dustin Grabau said he and County Council Chair Erik Rowland met with Waldrip and the governor's staff in late August and discussed options for the trust land property, including affordable housing. Grabau said state officials signaled they regretted some of their approach. In a statement, Waldrip said he was grateful the state and county were moving forward in partnership. ^[1]

The county still plans to seek repeal of SB258, Grabau said, arguing proposed changes do not go far enough. "I hope one of the big takeaways is for the state to not be so overly reactive to anecdotal complaints," he told the Tribune. ^[1]